First thing's first, no matter who was in the cage, I couldn't just leave a girl in their bound up like an animal for slaughter.
Actually, knowing those cultists, they probably think of her as an animal to be slaughtered.
That's besides the point. With a swing of my sword I broke the padlock to her cage.
After stepping out, I cut off her rope bindings.
She fiddles with the gag on her mouth.
From the cleanliness of her clothes, at least to me it's pretty clean, I'm not sure what a noble's standard of clean is. Most likely everything needs to be bleached then rinsed off with soap type of clean.
She seems to be recently kidnapped. Wonder why I haven't heard of anything.
Come to think of it, I was isolated from society for more than a year. Even if I lived like a hermit for the past year, I didn't hear any whispers of kidnapped nobles from the Royal Guard members I just met.
Then again, would they openly gossip about such a sensitive topic in front of a newbie?
Still with my in-game knowledge, I don't remember her story being tied to a evil cult this early on in LM 3.
This would mean in the game, this incident was covered up.
Whoever covered up the kidnapping of a high noble must be far up the ladder, but who? In the game, there's several noble families who'd love to drag the Drussels and their expansionist policies down a peg. World of nobles after all. Nobody likes it if someone has much more than what they believe that person should have.
It's hard to pinpoint which one precisely.
There's too many to list.
Count of Crime,
But I know of none who are willing to align themselves with cultists before the game has even started.
My time for pondering is cut short as the young lady manages to remove the cloth.
"Pwuah! Good riddance, I'm finally free!"
After her little exclamation, her ruby eyes meet my green ones dead-on.
She grabs the hem of her slightly dust-covered and bends her knees.
"Greetings, I am Elize Drussel. Daughter of House. I thank thee for rescuing me from my captives."
Her somewhat pompous behavior triggers something within my memory.
This scene...
This is almost a one-for-one replica of the cut scene that plays after completing the tutorial's combat section.
Several more pieces fall into my half-complete puzzle of a brain.
Elize Drussel, one of the main characters of the game and the earliest companions players can recruit.
Her backstory is quite simple and sets up the tutorial of the game.
MC with mysterious customizable class and background helps a small struggling fief clear out the local bandits.
When clearing out the bandits, he encounters a rich noble lady, Elise, kidnapped due to political struggles, gets saved by MC, becomes extremely grateful, takes them under their wing regardless of the background or class they chose.
She's a jack of all trades, skilled with both magic and swords, well-mannered and intelligent, lively and graceful, rich and well-spoken. She is one of LM 3's most popular characters to recruit and use even in the long term.
That's the basic tutorial/intro for the game.
There are several problems and questions surrounding me.
But the most prevalent being...
I'm not the MC.
The MC is the one who enters the Academy, recruits allies, picks sides and solves all the world's problems.
By saving her before the player character can, I essentially robbed them of their guide.
Why does that matter?
This isn't Earth where you can search up tutorials and let's plays. No, this is reality.
Without gaining Elize's gratitude, the player character cannot enter the Academy in the future where the main stage is set.
They can't pick up rare artefacts or recruit meta companions.
They can't clear the main quests and solve peoples' problems.
Most importantly, the MC will be less liely
If those problems are left unchecked, they can spiral out of control.
Since I'm the
Before I can continue further down a convoluted rabbit-hole of despair and potential scenarios, a noble voice brought me back from my mental train of self-destruction.
"I do believe when one shares their name, the other should respond in kind."
Haaa... Whatever, what's done is done. If we're going to screw the MC and mess up the storyline, we might as well get some benefits from it.
I place my right hand on my chest and bow, "My name is Ethan Halagad, apologies my lady for my rudeness and late introduction. I'm unsure how one of my position is to address someone of your status."
"You may refer to me as Lady Elize. No need for anything more grandiose than that."
Ah, Elize. Truly you're a kindhearted angel, both in the game and reality.
"Thank you for your benevolence, Lady Elize. If it's not impudent of me, may we resume our conversation someplace safer. I'm afraid there are still surviving patrols. Who knows when they might arrive."
Elize nods, "An excellent suggestion. Lead the way then."
"Yes, milady."
I escort Elize under the cover of night to the town.
Thankfully we didn't run into any of the surviving patrols.
With more than half their men and their cultist bosses dead, the remnants should disperse.
However, there's something nagging me.
It's about what Mark the bandit said about their 'boss man,' or was it one of the cave guards outside who said it.
Anyways, it seems like the 'hooded bastards' and the 'boss man' are completely separate entities based on the conversation I overheard between Mark and the guard.
When I assassinated everyone, I didn't find someone who fit the appearance of their 'boss.'
My heart hopes one of the sleeping bandits I shanked was the 'boss.'
But with the world screwing me over for the past year, I know better.
In all likelihood, their 'boss' is still milling about somewhere. As soon as he finds those corpses, he's definitely going to lie low and move his operations someplace else.
I loathe to leave a scoundrel like him alive, but I don't have much of a choice. Lady Elise's safety is top priority.
Silently we make our way through the woods.
I kept my wits about and my hands free and ready to whip out a knife or sword.
My temporary companion does her best to match my stealth. I sense faint traces of mana on her fingertips, prepped for a quick spell cast.
Now that we're out of the literal and proverbial woods, I strike up a conversation with Elize.
It's not everyday a person gets to meet one of their favorite franchise characters in real life.
Of course, I didn't rush things by asking dumb things like what's her favorite color or food. After the ordeal she went through, she is on her guard and will view my friendly approaches in a negative light.
Gotta start with questions that fit the mood and try to find a way to diverge from there.
"How exactly did you get captured by cultists and bandits?"
"I was in a carriage heading toward a city to inspect several new factories that've been built under my family name." Her eyes narrow, "Midway, my convoy was ambushed. As we wished to be discreet, our security detail was minimal. The bandits ambushed us, however we slowly gained the upper-hand."
She pauses momentarily, anger evident in her expression, "That's when the cultists joined the fray. They cast some curse temporarily restricting my abilities. They overwhelmed my guards and took me prisoner, bringing me to their lair you rescued me from."
She directs her eyes toward me, full of suspicion. Seriously, what did I do?
"Tell me, how did you manage to locate me?"
Ah, that's why. She gets kidnapped and is about to become a sacrifice for some sinister ritual when all of a sudden I arrive and save her.
Bit too much of a coincidence.
"I received orders from the higher-ups to clear out a gathering of bandits that've been harassing Hesh. I didn't realize they were in league with cultists and managed to kidnap a young noble."
"By any chance, can you tell me who gave you the orders?"
A reasonable request, I answer without hesitation,
"A member of the Royal Guard?"
I nod, pulling out my handy badge. I didn't get a good chance to examine it when I received it from Sir Malcolm, but it's pretty fancy. Gold with the insignia of a sword and a crown surrounded by olive branches.
I get her skepticism, I'm not exactly dressed up like a Royal Knight in my scout armor.
Elize scrutinizes the badge I hold in my hand.
Her close proximity toward makes me somewhat jittery, I can see every strand of her flawless, clean, platinum shoulder-length hair.
I wonder what lotions she uses to keep it in such great condition despite being locked up.
After careful inspection, the corners of her glossy lips curl upward.
"My, my, I didn't realize an actual knight came to my rescue. Although I would've preferred it if you showed up to rescue me in shining armor."
Goddamnit! The blood in my veins is pumping so fast I just might get a heart attack!
I can't believe I'm on the receiving end of her witty banter!?!
"I'll be sure to present myself in proper attire when I get the chance."
Her lips curl up further, she hides her amused smile behind her hand.
"How thoughtful, after you get in your armor, perhaps I should lock myself in a cell so we can redo our first meeting."
Goddamn! I don't know whether she's serious or just teasing me, I'm simping hard for her right now!
"You look far more radiant strolling a moonlit field than in a cage."
She chuckles, "Bold, but not overbearing. I fear for the ladies."
Excuse me!? Did she just diss me?
That's not important. Something's bothering me.
"Back in the forest, I sensed that you had a spell ready.
Her face sours,
"When we a
We chat for a bit.
It wasn't anything much, we simply shared a little about ourselves.
I told her that I came from a humble knight family and how I became Sir Elios' apprentice a year ago.
She introduces herself as the third daughter of the Drussell family and shares some of her exploits, low-key bragging about her talent in both the sword and magic.
For a short while, we chat until arriving at the entrance to the town. Several of the patrolling night guards halt us.
One of the guards recognize me and let's us enter without too much fuss.
Making our way through the dim streets, we find ourselves at the estate of the Baron. Nothing to fancy, a two-story home larger and slightly more decorative with its flower bushes than my family's.
I go up to the door and use the brass-knocker.
'Bang!' 'Bang!'
A middle-aged housekeeper opens up the door. Her bulldog face almost growls with annoyance.
"What business do you have in the middle of this ungodly hour!? You better have a good reason!"
Back on Earth, I probably would've been intimidated by this Victorian Karen, but I'm a member of the Royal Guard! Such an overbearing attitude does not perturb me the least!
"I'm here to report to Lord Hesh that the bandits have been exterminated."
The housekeeper's demeanor softens slightly, "Really? Well if you want to collect the reward, come back tomorrow morning. The lord hasn't had a good sleep since those mongrels moved into the forest."
"Can you wake him up now? I am escorting a VIP I rescued whom the Lord would be interested to meet."
"VIP?" She asks slightly annoyed, "Who is it?"
"A member of House Drussel."
The housekeeper looks over my shoulder and spots Elize.
Upon seeing her, the bulldog becomes more respectful in front of her betters, "Forgive me for keeping you here! Please come inside!"
The housekeeper lets us in and guides us to a waiting room, providing us with some refreshments before scurrying off to wake the balding Baron.
After the servant leaves, I take the opportunity to examine the room. It's been some time since I've last experienced the hospitality of civilization.
Luxurious, but incomparable to the wealth and grandeur of the Solyvr mansion, and that wasn't even their main household.
Though comparing a baron's abode to one of the Pillars of Alzer might be a bit unfair.
As I'm taking in the decor, Elise speaks up.
"Sir Ethan."
I snap back to reality and give her my full undivided attention, "Yes, Lady Elise?"
"You're a member of the Royal Knight's correct?"
"That's right."
She hesitates for a moment, "Can I trust you to aid me in capturing the ones responsible for my kidnapping?
Hmm, I was hoping to receive a monetary reward or verbal promise of a favor, but since one of my favorite waifus is asking, why not?
"A foregone conclusion, the egregious sin and crime of kidnapping a young woman cannot be forgiven."
Elise smiles, amused by my theatric answer.
She sips her tea, "To be honest, I know who kidnapped me."
"What?"
"Ahem, forgive my wording, rather than say I know who it is. It's better to say I have strong suspicions of who may have done it."
My eyes widen. The cookie I held in my hands fell to the floor.
This is different from what she says in the game. In LM 3, Elize claims she doesn't know who the, mastermind, backer for the bandits is.
"The one who had me kidnapped is a noble."
Oh, never mind, we're back on track with the Game of Crowns, political noble back-stabbing theme.
"Figured as much, but whose desperate and dastardly enough to deal with cultists? Not to mention they must have a good intelligence network to be able to pinpoint your location."
"It's not just any noble." I listen closely to her next words, "It's one of my siblings."
...
Oh you have got to be effin' kidding m-